« VVictim of a skiing accident, Gaspard Ulliel died on Wednesday. The 37-year-old French actor’s agent confirmed his death on Wednesday in a brief statement sent to Agence France-Presse. Gaspard Ulliel, known for his interpretation of Yves Saint Laurent on screen and Caesarized for Just the end of the world, had been the victim of a serious skiing accident the day before in La Rosière, in Savoie. He collided with another skier at the intersection of two blue runs.
In a press release, Anne Gaches, prosecutor of Albertville, specified that Gaspard Ulliel had “collided with another skier […] when he had just branched off to the left, probably to join his friends who were on another track in La Rosière. Contacted by Agence France-Presse, the prosecutor confirmed that he was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, even if, according to her, “it would not necessarily have changed things” otherwise.
The other unharmed skier
Anne Gaches explained that “it appears from the first testimonies and the observations made on the spot that the two skiers both fell. When help arrived, Mr. Ulliel was motionless, unconscious in the snow”, and “the other skier was unharmed”. According to the details of BFMTV, an investigation was opened by the Albertville public prosecutor’s office and entrusted to the republican mountain security company in the Alps.
Jérémie Silva, director of the La Rosière tourist office, said the accident occurred “in good weather on good snow”. According to him, “the trackers intervened one minute after the accident, at 3:59 p.m., to provide first aid”. “It’s not a particularly accident-prone area. We are on a blue run, a separation of two blue runs. This is the first time that we have had such a serious accident at this place. »
An “icon of French elegance”, salutes Emmanuel Macron
“Gaspard Ulliel grew up with cinema and cinema grew with him. They loved each other madly. It is with a heavy heart that we will now see his most beautiful interpretations and meet this certain look. We are losing a French actor”, immediately reacted the Prime Minister, Jean Castex, on Twitter. In the evening, Wednesday, the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, also shared “his great sadness” on learning of the death of the actor.
“The President of the Republic learned with great sadness of the death of Gaspard Ulliel, taken too young, at only 37 years old, by a serious skiing accident. Actor of television since childhood, of cinema then, of theater sometimes, icon of French elegance, he dazzled all the objectives and occupied the top of the bill for more than two decades, “says a press release from the Élysée. . “The President of the Republic and his wife deplore the sudden disappearance of this talented actor whose blue gaze was a signature of French cinema”, adds the text.
Gaspard Ulliel grew up with cinema and cinema grew with him. They loved each other madly.
It is with a heavy heart that we will now see his most beautiful interpretations and meet this certain look.
We are losing a French actor. pic.twitter.com/pAi7Do3FIU
— Jean Castex (@JeanCASTEX) January 19, 2022
The Minister of Culture, Roselyne Bachelot, also paid tribute to Gaspard Ulliel, whom she described as an “exceptional actor” and “tremendous talent”.
His sensitivity and the intensity of his acting made Gaspard Ulliel an exceptional actor. The cinema today loses an immense talent.
I send my condolences to his loved ones and my loving thoughts to all who mourn him today. pic.twitter.com/ro4VYhwY2B
— Roselyne Bachelot (@R_Bachelot) January 19, 2022
Actors and friends from the film world have also begun expressing their sadness on social media. Pierre Niney, who stole the César for best actor from him in 2015 (they were both in the running for the role of Yves Saint Laurent, but in two different films), said he was heartbroken.
He was known to the general public for films like A long engagement Sunday (2004) by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Saint Laurent (2014) by Bertrand Bonello and Just the end of the world (2016) by Xavier Dolan, which won him the César for best actor in 2017. He played a writer there reuniting with his family, after twelve years of absence, to whom he came to announce his impending death.
During an eclectic career, he toured alongside big names in French cinema, such as Isabelle Huppert and Gérard Depardieu. Angel’s face and slight scar linked to a dog scratch during his childhood, he was also the face of a Chanel perfume. Leading a career in France but also internationally, he was soon to be featured in the Marvel series Moon Knight, broadcast on Disney+.